SONEZAKI SHINJU
(Double Suicide
at The Sonezaki-forest)

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"Sonezaki-Shinjyu" was written by Monzaemon Chikamatsu(1653-1724) in 1703, one of the greatest playwrights in early Tokugawa era, who is often compared puppetry which is called "Bunraku" puppets perform stories that are told in special chants called "Joruri", to the accompaniment of dramatic Shamisen music. Reflecting the great insights into human nature that are characteristic of Shakespear's as well, his considered to be the basis of the huge classics repertoire of "Bunraku" and " Kabuki".

At the beginning of Yuko Senga's purified "Sonezaki Shinju", you will see nothing but a wooden book rest with two candle on its both sides in the center of the stage. Then she appears dressed in black, following the sound of Syakuhachi. She lights the candles and sits down behind the book rest on the stage. She plays all the roles ranging from a young girl to an old man and even the pealing of temple bells, giving all the lines of the original. She project them only by her voice and facial expressions without Shamisen music. During the one-hour performance, therefore, you hardly see her move. Despite sitting still, she is full of energy produced by the Chikamatsu's characters. Contrasting with the original, her "Sonezaki Shinju" is taken away of its dynamic visual attractions and has become so unique that belongs to neither "Bunraku" nor "Kabuki". Now you will see a newly reborn "narration drama".

This Senga's narration Drama "Sonezaki Shinju" was first performed as a part of a project at Jean-Jean Theatre in Tokyo, 1979, produced by Hiroko Seki, which eventually ran for two years. Since then she has been performing the play more than eighteen years throughout Japan. In 1997, she has performed in Warsaw, invited by Warsaw University.
The cassette tapes of her "Sonezaki Shinju" and other repertoire are now on sale by Bandai Co,Ltd.

script: Monzaemon CHIKAMATSU
superviser: Hieo KANZE
director: Kenichi KASAI

performer: Yuko SENGA

stage manager: Makoto TANGE

Out Line

Part 1

The story begins with the scene of a prostitute Ohatsu and her customer are making a pilgrimage to 33 sacred places of Kan-non. This beautiful passage is both explain each appearance of 33 temples use freely splendid Kake-kotoba and stock epithet.
Tokube is a young assistant clerk of Hiranoya Kyuemon's soy sauce shop in Osaka city. He has been in love with a prostitute, Ohatsu. She is eighteen. Kyuemon is Tokube's master, and also his uncle. He hopes to marry Tokube with his wife's niece, and become to be next master of his shop. So Kyuemon slipped 2 kanme(about $15,000) dowry into Tokube's stepmother. Tokube found this secret promise, then he did everything possible and took back the money. On his way back, Tokube meets his friend, Aburaya Kuheiji. Kuheiji talks about his distress. Tokube lends him the dowry. But after few days he finds him with fellows out at Ikutama shrine. They drunk and are singing. Kuheiji won't pay back money and takes Tokube to task for a unreasonably claim. Kuheiji
and his fellows knock Tokube down. Ohatsu and her customer watch this fight, but she can't do anything. Her customer takes her back to her place.

Part 2

In that night Tokube visits Ohatsu in secretly and tells her about his determination. Because he can't pay money back to his master, and he was insulted in public. So to clear his name, he has to kill himself.
When he hid under the floor lead by Ohatsu, Kuheiji and his friends come to her place. He declares Tokube's crime to Ohatsu and the other prostitutes. Ohatsu and Tokube make the sign each other in secretly. They decide to commit double suicide in the night.

Part 3

In the midnight, Tokube and Ohatsu snake out from her place. They kill themselves at the Sonezaki forest.

biography

1981Å`82 TOKYO/Jean-Jean Theatre, long-run during two years
1982 MAEBASHI
1984 SENDAI/Jugatsu Theatre Atelier, joined the opening festival of this studio
KYOTO/Stone garden of Myoren-ji templeÅiShakuhachi/Uwe WalterÅj
1987 KYOTO/Stone garden of Myoren-ji templeÅiShakuhachi/Uwe WalterÅj
1988 SENDAI/141 Gallery Hall(Shakuhachi/So Ito)
1989 MYOKO-KOGEN/The Hall for Myoko-kogen People
1990 TOKOYO/Proto Theatre
1992 MAEBASHI/Aoi Me(Japanese flute/Makoto Tange)
TOKYO/Striped House Museum of Art(Shakuhachi/So Ito)
KANAZAWA/Bunkyo Hall(Shakuhachi/So Ito)
TOKYO/Mameya(Shakuhachi/So Ito)
1994 Okuhida,Kamitakara-mura/Tobo Mizutani(Japanese flute/Makoto Tange)
TAKAOKA/Caffe de Cipre(Shakuhachi/Hiko)
NIIGATA/Cine Wind(Japanese flute/Makoto Tange)
TOKYO/Store House
IIJIMA/joined to Ajia Solo Performance Festival
1995 NAGATO/joined to Chikamatsu Festival
1996 WARSOW/invited by Warsow Univercity
1997 MOTOYOSHI/Hamanasu Hall, one year ceremony